The EiE Hub has submitted input to the OHCHR’s report on how climate change can have an impact on the realization of the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl, consolidating information gathered from across the EiE Hub membership. The inputs demonstrate the role EiE plays in supporting gender-based human rights under the most challenging circumstances.
The submission lists some of the most important barriers for girls to their equal enjoyment of the right to education in emergencies. These include:
- Loss of income and livelihoods forcing families to withdraw children from school, especially girls, can be caused or exacerbated by climate change induced crises;
- The burden of girls’ domestic responsibilities such as securing food, water, and fuel can increase due to climate change induced crises, thus affecting their ability to attend school;
- Gender inequalities, stereotypes and structural gender-based discrimination against girls, and other discrimination, can be exacerbated by climate change induced crises;
- Climate change-induced weather-related hazards can lead to school closures and school dropouts, in particular among girls;
- The risks girls are exposed to when travelling to and from school, including gender-specific risks, can increase due to climate change induced crises;
- climate change induced crises can cause damage to WASH infrastructure, and other infrastructure meeting the needs of female students and teachers, keeping them from attending school;
- Climate change related high temperatures and other extreme weather conditions disproportionally affect the health and well-being of girls; and
- Climate change related displacement.
It then offers examples of concrete measures being taken to respond to these barriers, and looks at how such measures contribute to addressing climate change. The climate change agenda can benefit enormously from the empowerment of all girls, which can be enabled by addressing some of the most important existing gaps and challenges in education.